Police: Woman used hammer to burglarize pharmacyASHDOWN (AP) — The police chief of a southwestern Arkansas community says a woman used a hammer to break into a pharmacy to steal about 3,000 pills. Ashdown Police Chief Mark Ardwin says the 33-year-old woman was a former employee of the Walgreens pharmacy. He says she was arrested about an hour after officers were notified the business was broken into Monday night. He tells the Texarkana Gazette (http://bit.ly/1zaOgMc ) that after breaking th...

Tickets available for tonight’s Chamber of Commerce banquetIt’s time for the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce to once again celebrate our extraordinary business community. As one of the Chamber’s most popular events, the Annual Membership Celebration and Banquet will attract over 300 of the area’s top business and community leaders. The Annual Membership Celebration and Banquet brings together the leadership and membership of the Russellville Area Chamber to celebrate the accomplishments of the p...

Arkansas panel rejects removing Lee from King holidayLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A bid to end Arkansas' practice of commemorating Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. on the same day was rejected by lawmakers Wednesday after opponents said the move would belittle Southern heritage. The proposal would have removed Lee from the state holiday honoring King. Arkansas is one of three states to jointly celebrate the two on the third Monday in January. The House State Agen...

River Valley United Way announces fundingThe River Valley United Way announced its program funding for Fiscal Year 2015. The investment decisions were made following months of hard work by the dedicated volunteer members of its Community Investment Committee. River Valley United Way will invest more than $260,000 in programs that meet basic and emergency needs, as well as programs that offer people a step up in their quality of life. Funding begins in March. “This was a tough fundrai...

Bazzel strengthens ties in DardanelleDARDANELLE — Community, strength and roots ran deep at the Dardanelle Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet Monday at the community center. Guest speaker David Bazzel engaged community members in how to strengthen the city's bond. "Don't tell me why you can't do it; tell me how you are going to get it done," Bazzel said. "You are a key to making Arkansas what it is. What you can do every day is make Dardanelle be the best it can be." Although a Flo...

Obituary: Ann MitchellAnn Mitchell, 84, of Russellville died Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, at the Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home. She was born July 14, 1930, in Arkansas, to Walter and Gladys Davis Dennis. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert Mitchell; and a son, Robert Mitchell Jr. Survivors include a son, David Mitchell of Pottsville; two daughters and a son-in-law, Bobbie and Charles Huffman of London and Janice Brown of Russellville; a bro...

Obituary: Justin PhillipsCLARKSVILLE — Justin Dean Phillips, 36, of Clarksville passed from this life, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Clarksville. He was born Monday, Feb. 27, 1978, in Booneville to Jerry Dean and Sandra (Plunkett) Phillips. He is preceded in death by his father and two grandfathers, Bobby Phillips and Caroll Plunkett. Justin is survived by his mother, Sandra Phillips of Clarksville; two daughters, Wraylin Phillips and Madilyn Phillips; one sister, Candace...

Sheriff's office promotes twoThe Pope County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday the promotions of two deputies. Jim Lean was promoted to patrol lieutenant, and Jamie Gray was promoted to patrol sergeant. Pope County Sheriff Shane Jones said he was proud of the pair. "It's an honor and a privilege to have Lt. Lean and Sgt. Gray be a part of the sheriff's department," he said. Lean has been with the department since 2002 and previously served as patrol sergeant. Gray joined...

Local students win statewide investment programArkansas River Valley students were recently honored with second-place awards for their work in a statewide investment and saving simulation program. Five students from Russellville Upper Elementary Fifth Grade (UE5G) and four students from S.C. Tucker Elementary School in Danville each won the second-place prize in their respective divisions in a 10-week session of the Stock Market Game Program. The students were awarded trophies and cash pri...

Skelton urges stricter adherence to rulesThe Russellville Planning Commission voted 5-3 to allow a non-standard commercial building addition to an existing building on West Parkway after a lengthy discussion, leading Commissioner Doug Skelton to express a need for stricter adherence to guidelines. "This is outrageous," Skelton said during Monday's meeting. "We should have some say in the front facade of the buildings, and if they don't want to meet what the requirements are, then the...

News Briefs (Jan. 28, 2015)Central Fire Station presentations The city of Russellville will host presentations by selected architectural firms for the new Central Fire Station during four sessions on Thursday at Russellville City Hall in the City Council Chambers. The list of firms and presentation times includes the Renaissance Group at 9 a.m., Hoefer Wysoki Architecture at 10:15, Jackson Brown Palculict Architects at 1 p.m. and Guest Reddick Architects at 2. For more ...

2nd proposal to end Arkansas' Medicaid plan in 2015 filedLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A second proposal has been filed in the Legislature to end Arkansas' compromise Medicaid expansion this year, days after Gov. Asa Hutchinson called on lawmakers to continue the program through 2016. Republican Rep. Donnie Copeland of Little Rock filed a proposal Tuesday to end the "private option," which uses federal funds to purchase private insurance for the poor. Copeland's proposal would end the program Dec. 31. Hutchins...

Hutchinson proposes boosting Medicaid, schools, prison fundsLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas' public schools, prisons and Medicaid program would receive boosts in funding while most other state agencies would see a small cut under a $5.2 billion budget plan Gov. Asa Hutchinson presented to lawmakers on Tuesday. Finance officials outlined a plan that taps into the state's surplus to fill funding gaps as lawmakers advanced Hutchinson's campaign promise to cut income taxes for the middle class by about $102 mi...

Plaintiffs object to new arguments in Arkansas marriage caseLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Attorneys representing same-sex couples in Arkansas are objecting to the state's request for new oral arguments in a lawsuit challenging the state's gay marriage ban. Cheryl Maples and Jack Wagoner on Tuesday petitioned the Arkansas Supreme Court to deny the state's motion submitted on Friday. They say the state's request is unusual and that their clients cannot afford further delay. A Pulaski County judge in May struck down...

$7,500 reward offered after bald eagle shotLITTLE ROCK (AP) — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission are seeking information about the recent shooting of a bald eagle. Several other agencies, including the Humane Society of the United States, are offering a reward up to $7,500 for information leading to a conviction of those responsible for the incident. Residents found the injured bald eagle in December on an island on the Arkansas River near Pari...

Bill removing Robert E. Lee from King holiday amendedLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A proposal to end Arkansas' practice of honoring Robert E. Lee on the same day as civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. is being changed to set aside another day to commemorate the Confederate general. Republican Rep. Nate Bell of Mena on Tuesday amended his proposal to remove Lee from the holiday honoring King's birthday. Arkansas is one of three states to jointly celebrate King and Lee on the third Monday in January. Th...

House panel advances governor's tax cut planLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A House panel has advanced Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson's middle class tax cut package after restoring a portion of a capital gains tax break it would have repealed. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Tuesday endorsed Hutchinson's proposal to cut taxes by 1 percent for those making between $21,000 and $75,000 a year. The Senate approved the measure last week and it now heads to the full House. The panel backed the m...